Rugby Town slipped to a second successive defeat at early pace setters Loughborough University.

Valley saw their first half lead overturned within ten minutes of the new period, as the hosts maintained a 100% successful start to their league campaign.

Jazz Luckie made his first competitive start for the club, with captain Loyiso Recci also back in the line-up, and Rugby started brightly enough - pressing their student hosts high up the pitch.

An early attack for the visitors saw Caine Elliott's cross drift agonisingly out of Luckie's reach, with the debutant also then dragging one wide.

Charlie Evans was another to miss the target with his shot, before Town took the lead on the half hour mark from a well-worked move, with Lee Thomas, Evans and Ryan Seal involved in the build-up ahead of a neat low finish from Luckie.

The referee's assistant's flag ruled out a Valley second shortly after, with Justin Marsden the player denied.

Loughborough ended the half on a more promising note though, with Town's Matt Hill first thwarting Will Dawes when the striker was through on goal and then the keeper pulled off a point blank save to Roman Silva's strike.

There was a noticeable improvement from the home side after the restart, and they were level within five minutes when Jamal Clarke failed to deal with Silva's through ball to allow Kel Akpobire to run on and shoot past Hill.

The comeback was soon complete after Thomas was caught in possession in the box and the Rugby defender was subsequently adjudged to have taken down Silva, with Connor Smith confidently stroking home from the penalty spot.

The double blow knocked the stuffing out of Town for a while, and they struggled to break down the University outfit.

Evans's strike from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by James Stallan, before Rugby substitute Sam Lockley spurned a golden chance for a late equaliser when he took one too many touches in front of goal ahead of hitting his effort straight at Stallan.

Valley Line-up: Hill; L Recci, Thomas (Lockley), Clarke, Alexander; Elliott, White (Holloway), Seal; Marsden (Koriya), Evans, Luckie. Subs not used: Francis. Booked: Alexander, Elliott, L Recci, Thomas.

Loughborough line-up: Stallan, Ferrinho, Davis, Sackey-Mensah, Turner, Le Rougetel, Smith, Wilson, Akpobire, Dawes, Silva. Subs: Field, Hilton, Townrow, Iaciofano, Cashmore.